MAKING YOUR CLASS MOBILE

Special thanks to Rachel!  When I was asking my students what they thought of a flipped classroom, Rachel said that it should be mobile!  Absolutely!  Many of my students do not have access to a computer or internet but most have some kind of smartphone.  I know we as educators cringe at the idea of using cell phones in the class room, but this is preferred method of communication amongst our students.  If we do not teach them how to properly use research and class time on the phones, we leave a void that will get filled with games and mindless time stealers! So teach we must!

I set to searching for that perfect way to create a mobile website and keeping with my main criteria of FREE, I stumbled upon DudaMobile.   They offer the ability to make your website a mobile site!  Don't fall for it!  If your website is small enough for a mobile device to work it smoothly, then your website is not working to its full potential and you don't need a separate mobile site.  If your website does all the things you want it to do, then its too big a file to run on a mobile device! Start from scratch and leave off all the fancy fluff things.  Keep the files small, including pictures if any.  That way students who don't have internet access on their phones can still access with little problems.  Check out my initial template to get a better idea. THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS!!  If you have a mobile site, I would love to hear from you!  With this mobile site, my students can:

• get the outline of the chapter
• get their homework assignment
• I prepared the audio reading of the chapter and the outline to be a you tube video in 3GP format (I googled up what the best format for cell phones)  This may be an unnecessary step  as the wmv format from window movie maker seem to work OK.  If you need to convert your video into any format, might I suggest Freemake video converter.  Need I say that it is free and works incredibly easy! 
• access the youtube videos you've made to explain the chapter or the lecture. 

My future plans for the mobile page include:

• call in the answer to some short questions (I've seen language teachers use this function)
• access to just the audio files for the chapters
• geo-caching! Pair up to follow the GPS coordinates, take pictures of you and your partner at each goal and submit to website!

You get the idea!  If the students are using these devices, they might as well be using them to some good.  We are not getting rid of them, they are only going to evolve to the "next best thing", and we need to keep up with these trends so that our students can compete in this world.

Wish Me Luck!

2.  HOW THIS GOT STARTED: FLIP A CLASSROOM!
I had attended a workshop on "flipping your classroom".  I was so inspired that I've devoted this summer to setting up a such a class.  In a flipped classroom the students take notes and make outlines at home with the help of online videos (sort of like Khan Academy)!  This way the book reading, outlines, and explanation of those notes can be made available online for homework.  When the students come into the class, they have the background info and can get right into the practice under the watchful eye of the teacher.  My intentions of how my "flipped classroom" will work:

• An outline of the chapter is provided for the students.  This duty will be given over to the students as they get better at note-taking.
• An audio of the chapter being read is available online for my textbook.  This will help the students who are auditory learners or slow readers.  
• I am able to use Windows Movie Maker to create a YouTube video of the outline and add the audio track to it. *TIP -  Change the duration of the video to match the length of the audio.  Save as a wmv or avi file.  Upload to YouTube and you can embed your video anywhere! check out my outline and reading here!  Obviously, I need to work on the outline text. **NOTE - I use OpenOffice  as my office suite.  It is free and has the ability to create pdf files from the text documents.  Take a snapshot of the pdf file and paste into Microsoft Paint. This will convert your text file to a jpeg or ping file(picture) suitable for use on the Windows Movie Maker.  I am still working out the kinks here and will post as I work this out. 
• Why am I doing this?  Consider the advantage of having the students take your board notes with NO distractions!  No more "did everyone get this?", "Mrs. S, I can't write and listen to you at the same time!", or the inevitable disruptions from those who finished minutes ago.  Everyone is at their own pace!  They can pause the video and write their notes in their own sweet time.  They can read the book and follow along.  Class time becomes their practice time where you go about helping and they can collaborate with their peers!  Great, huh?
• My intention is to get it closer to Khan Academy!  I will keep you posted as I get better at this!

1. A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES: THE WEB INTENSIVE CLASSROOM

1.  August 16, 2013
Just like anything else in my life, that first step is the worst.  Actually, it's the thinking of and planning that first step.  I know you know what I am talking about.  Well, I am starting this Blog again with the support of my daughter Becca.  It is with my fellow educators that I direct this blog.  Those who know me will tell you how obsessed I get with tech in my classroom.  This summer has not been any different and with the advent of PARCC and all the hoops that throws in our way, I will graciously allow spectators to my obsession in hopes that you will gain from my madness!

WEBSITE: MyHaikuClass

I have created no fewer than 6 websites for the classroom in the 7years I have been at Pleasantville High School. I even set up a website for my long term subbing position at EHT High School.  In all that time, I have not found one any easier to set up and use than MyHaikuClass !  When I started the website I found that I could be in constant contact with my students and their parents.  Classwork and Homework reminders are a breeze.  As I and the website have evolved I found that I can:

• Create quizzes, test, and practice test (review!) online.  I have created tests that are input one question at a time with pictures to guide the students.  I have uploaded Examview test by converting them to blackboard and posting online.  The real joy!? The website grades the T/F, multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions for you.  The open ended questions get put in a dialog box for you to grade.  *NOTE - There is a box for you to adjust the weight for each question.  That way I can have the open ended questions count more than the multiple choice!
• I have used the discussion block for student journals, collaborative work, and open ended responses to online readings.  You can determine who sees the students work when you set up the dialog box. *MY SUGGESTION:  even though you can change these setting after students have answered, the students may not want to have the setting changed!  So don't!
• Got a few extra hours?? Yeah, I know!  But just in case, you can make up multiple pages with upcoming assignments and unpublish them.  This way, the pages are just waiting for you to open them to the students!  **BONUS*** The pages are already done for next year!  Minor tweaks and you're good to go! As the admin, you have access to any page and can check whether you want to publish or unpublish them, that simple!
• I have the students create a webpage for a Notable Scientist at the beginning of the year.  Each student gets a template and rubric primarily designed to make a facebook page and when they are done, they visit each others websites and critique them in the page comment section at the bottom of each page.  All of this is done within the Haiku website.
• I can set up assignments that the worksheet, rubric, links, and answer area are all on one place.  MyHaikuClass has a wonderful way of "handing in" the assignment.  The students have a dialog box and can attach any number of files.  *NOTE - when using any of the dialog boxes, the students can continue to work and "Save as Draft" but the teacher does not see the work until it is "Save as Post". If they save as post it will tell them they have 30 minutes to make any edits.  Save as Draft allows for unlimited editing!
• I personally do not use the grade book attached, but that is an option!
• I LOVE that the students can contact me and I can contact them, but neither see the email used!  
• Every year I have a number of students that are on home study or have a family emergency and must be away for an extended period of time.  I set up a page just for them to follow along with the class.  They can even take the test from their computer or laptop anywhere in the world!

The next step:  making crucial parts of this site mobile!